Last.



-A. GODFREY.

LAST.

, AAAAAAAA ION r IIII m LLLLL 1911.

1,094,988. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

' iron-teas.

the work upon the upper is finished, is short- UNITED sTA't s PATENT OFF-ICE.

ALEXANDER GODFREY, or BRADFORD, MASSACHUSETTS;

LA ST.

Specif cation of-Letters Patent. Patented ADLQS, Application filed July 31,191 1. Serial No. 641,866.

To all "cc/mm. it may concern Be it known that I, Anrxaxmsn honrinzv. a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county of Essex and State of lllassaclnisetts have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts, of which the following is a' specification.

My invention relates to improvements in lasts which, while capable of use in any situ at-ion where it would operate in a proper manner is, particularly constructed for use upon a machine in the manufacture of shoes. the object being the production of a two part last which is capable o'f'aswinging action t o shorten the last and permit the ready withdrawal of the shoe from the last. Another object of my inventionis the provision ofa last which is attached to the machine 1n inverted or upset posltion, and

which receives the upper and which, when ened in length to permit the withdrawal of the upper. I

'Another object of my invention is the provision .of a last which cannot possibly become accidentally removed from its proper adjustment, but which can be instantly shortened in length and which last will be of the simplest and most durable construction possible and be capable of production at a very low price.

With these objects in view, my invention consists of a last of the character and for the purpose statedembodyingnovel features of construction and-combination of parts substantially s disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a'plan view of a last constructed in accordance with and embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the complete last, partly broken away. to disclose details of construction. and

Fig. 3 represents a face view looking at the inner portion of the heel member, showing particularly 'the blade and the automatic locking devices carried by the heel member.

My last consists of the front pr toe memher A, provided in its inner portion withthe socket or chamber B, and with the extension C, and the heel member D, which has socured centrally thereof the plate F. formed with the extension or blade G which normally lies within the socket or chamber of the toe section. The said blade is provided with the pair of oppositely inclined'slots ll, in which sit the pair of pins or stnds J, which pass through the toe section, this construction providin, a flexible or hingedconnection between the toe and heel members and also permitting, by reason of'the slots, a certain amount of movement or play which results naturally 'in the shortening of moved toward the heel member. 1

lfpon the flat face K of the heel member is pivoted the locking plate L which, by reason of the slot M and the stud N fitting in said slot, permits the plate. aslight movement,

retained from impropermovementby means keeper Q, carried-by the toe member.

In. use the lastis secured upon af-suitable jack orsupport by means of the socket Rin the heel member, and when it is desiredto shorten the last, contact is made, with the lug S on the locking plate, which releases the lockingplate from the keeper and perpermitting the withdrawal of the finishedupper and the application of another upper,

tended position.

upon machines used in the manufacture of shoes where a sectional ortwo-part last capable of av swinging action to shorten the last and permit the ready removal of the shoe thereform is especially needed, and it is the function of the present invention to provide a contact means upon the locking plate of the last which the contact device shorten the last. This is an important feature of the invention, the specific arrange -mcnt of the locking plate and contact lug serving to insure a firm andpositive contact permit their swinging action.

It will be understood that while my last is particularly adapted for use in connectioxrwith a machine in the manufacture of boots and shoes, the last can be used for the the upper of the shoe in proper shape and appearance, and the advantages of my'last will .bereadilv understood by all cmvcisam orskilled in the art.

of the stop' P and thelockingr blate when the last is open or distended, engaging the mits the toe section or, member to be tilted and moved inward, shortening the last and it being understood that the tilting of the toe section immediately locks it in the e,

The last is particularly adapted for use to effect-the releasing of the sections and-- the last when the toe section is tilted and and the plate is held in normally lockedpo- 'sition by means of the flat spring O whichbears against sa d plate, said, spring being.

of the machine may strike against to purpose of exhibiting shoes, or for keeping the removal by the'l'machine.

, members 'or It will be noted that the heel portion of my last 'is provided with an inner inclined wall and that the toe portion is formed with an opposite practically vertical wall, and

thatthe connection between the heel and toe portions permits the closing of the,port1ons into a small space to permit that ,I provide a novel means for locking the sections which is automatically released I claim:

The last herein described, consistingof a heel section having an n wardly and back-.

wardly inclined front wa l, a platesecure'd in said heel section and formed with a forwardly projecting extension and provided with a paircof oppositely inclined slots, a

toe section formed with a socket to receivethe horizontally extending portion of the V plate carried- "by the heel sectlon, a pair of pins carried by the toe section and passing through the oppositely inclined slots of the is plate, said slots being arranged to. permit the heel section to be moved bodily forward towardthe toe section, said toesection being'formed with an inner practically perpendicula-r wall, the .parts so arranged that the :heel, secti' on may be brought forward to" of the shoe from the last, and

bring the inclined wallthereof substantially parallel with the perpendicular wall of the toe section to shorten the last, and means for securing the last whenextended andfor Y releasing the sections when necessary.

2. A last comprising a heel section hav- ,ing an'upwardly and backwardly inclined front wall, a toe section having a horizontal upper face, means connecting such sections.

and permitting relative movement therebetween, and means for securing the sections in extended position and for releas1ng.them when necessary,- consistlng of a keeper on the horizontal upper face of the toe srction,

In testimony whereof I afliu my signature in presence 01 two witnesses.

ALEXANDER GODFREY.

Witnesses: '4

MILDRED F. SI'IEEHAN,

ETHEL MrronELL HALE. 

